The first of the ‘Big 3’ spring majors, this year’s $2.5 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) is set to run on Saturday October 19.

As always it is shaping up as a top class showdown with many of the gallopers heading towards the spring carnival’s showpiece – the $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington later in the year.

Amazingly last year’s Melbourne Cup result could prove the form line for this year’s Caulfield Cup finish as nine of the first 10 horses past the post at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November have been nominated for the first leg of the spring cups double in 2013.

Included in that list is the reigning Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon, one of 14 entries for owner Lloyd Williams’ head trainer Robert Hickmott, who earlier ran second to in the 2011 Caulfield Cup.

Last year’s Caulfield Cup winner Dunaden is missing from the Caulfield Cup nominations this year but there’s still a strong presence of northern hemisphere-trained raiders.

Eighteen internationals are in the mix this year, the shortest-priced in the early Aussie markets being Dandino prepared by Newmarket-based Marco Botti.

Owned by Australian connections (ATB), the Dansili stallion was last seen running second to the ill-fated Thomas Chippendale in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2414m) at Ascot on June 22.

Botti is also represented in the nominations by veteran stallion Jakkalberry who was a brave third in the Melbourne Cup last year after finishing 13th in the Caulfield Cup.

Ante-Post Caulfield Cup betting markets meanwhile were led by top New Zealand-trained galloper It’s A Dundeel.

A four-time Group 1 winner down under thanks mostly to their success in the three legs of the Sydney Autumn 3YO Triple Crown last season, It’s A Dundeel is also the early Cox Plate favourite – nominations for which also closed today.

They were however a surprise non-nominee for the Caulfield Cup and will be targeted for the WFA race instead.

Also high up the Caulfield Cup markets are fellow nominees including Chris Waller’s Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent, Jet Away, last year’s Australian Derby champ Ethiopia, last year’s Melbourne Cup runner-up Fiorente and Peter Moody’s progressive five-year-old Strawberry Boy.

The sole three-year-old in Caulfield Cup contention this year meanwhile is the undefeated Haradasun colt Prince Harada.

Tony Vasil’s youngster is out to become the first three-year-old Caulfield Cup winner since Mighty Kingdom won way back in 1979 for the late, great T.J. Smith.

Smith’s daughter Gai Waterhouse meanwhile will take her shot at the 2013 Caulfield Cup trophy with 14 entries including Carlton House who is owned by Queen Elizabeth II and the aforementioned Fiorente.

The above Waterhouse-trained duo are two of 78 Caulfield Cup hopefuls bred in the northern hemisphere this year.

Waller also has plenty of representation in the nominations with 10 entries including the previously noted fancy Royal Descent, French import Bayrir and Doomben Cup champion Beaten Up.

The ‘Cups King’ Bart Cummings, now officially training in partnership with grandson James, will be shooting for his eighth Caulfield Cup trophy this year with two entries.

Cummings last won the race back in 2009 with Viewed, winner of the previous year’s Melbourne Cup, and will look for his next this year with Commission and Precedence.

Another top fancy was Ballarat-based stayer Puissance De Lune, nominal favourite for the Melbourne Cup as well, who is a notable omission from the Caulfield Cup nominations.

Check out the full 2013 Caulfield Cup nominations below, late entries open until next Tuesday.

Updated Caulfield Cup odds are due out at our preferred online bookie bookmaker.com.au shortly so make sure you’ve got an account open with them today to get in on the action and secure the generous early prices.